Full text: Vitruvius: The architecture of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio in ten books

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ties, the work will never be dislodged. For a great rush 
of air is generated in an aqueduct, strong enough to 
break even stones, unless the water is softly and spar- 
ingly let down from the head, and unless in elbows or 
bending joints it be restrained by means of ligatures, or 
a weight of ballast. In other respects it is similar to 
one with leaden pipes. When the water is first let down 
from the head, ashes are put in which will stop those 
joints not sufficiently coated. Earthen pipes have these 
advantages, first as to the work ; next, that if damaged 
any one can repair it. Water conducted through earthen 
pipes is more wholesome than that through lead ; indeed 
that conveyed in lead must be injurious, because from it 
white lead is obtained, and this is said to be injurious to 
the human system. Hence, if what is generated from it 
is pernicious, there can be no doubt that itself cannot be 
a wholesome body. This may be verified by observing 
the workers in lead, who are of a pallid colour; for in 
casting lead, the fumes from it fixing on the different 
members, and daily burning them, destroy the vigour of 
the blood ; water should therefore on no account be con- 
ducted in leaden pipes if we are desirous that it should 
be wholesome. That the flavour of that conveyed in 
earthen pipes is better, is shown at our daily meals, for 
all those whose tables are furnished with silver vessels, 
nevertheless use those made of earth, from the purity of 
the flavour being preserved in them. If there be no 
springs from which water can be obtained, it is necessary 
to dig wells, on which every care is to be bestowed, and 
the utmost ingenuity and discretion used in the examina¬ 
tion of the natural indications of the circumstances there- 
about, inasmuch as the different sorts of soil which are 
met with, are many and various. That, like every other 
body, is composed of four elements; first of earth itself; 
water, whence are the springs; heat, whence sulphur, 
alum, and bitumen are generated ; and air, whence arise 
great vapours, which, piercing through the pores to the 
opening of wells, strike upon the excavators and suffocate
	        
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